Domestic violence decried at 'Walk a Mile in Her Shoes' event

Pictures of two sisters slain in Blissfield by an ex-boyfriend were reminders Thursday as opponents of domestic violence held their third annual "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" rally.

More than 120 people gathered outside the Christian Family Centre to show support, participate in a memorial walk wearing women's shoes and to hear speakers. Several of them said that domestic violence has community-wide effects, and needs to be addressed by everyone.

"One in every three women is affected by domestic violence," said event organizer Candy Taulton, a legal advocate at Family Counseling and Children's Services. "If you look around this pavilion, it could be one of any three of us."

Taulton wore a T-shirt with a photo of Amy Merrill, 24, and Lisa Gritzmaker, 34. They were shot to death July 13 in Blissfield. The women's mother, Robin McGowan, was critically wounded. Gritzmaker was pregnant, and her unborn daughter also died.

The attacker, Merrill's estranged boyfriend, later committed suicide after being located by authorities at a remote cabin in West Virginia.

Taulton said people often wonder why police aren't better at preventing domestic violence.

"It's not always the police who need to do their jobs. It starts with families," Taulton said, urging everyone to take stands against demeaning attitudes or jokes. "It starts with teaching our boys and girls."

Poems were read by two teens, ages 14 and 15, and participants also viewed art and listened to music protesting domestic violence.

Dozens of adults and college students paid $10 to participate in the walk. Proceeds from the event help support the Catherine Cobb Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program.

State Rep. Nancy Jenkins spoke about a friend still recovering from violent marriages in which the friend's first husband put a gun to her head and a second husband also was abusive. Jenkins said such experiences helped her support several bills in the Legislature. One helps protect women from being forced into an abortion. Another requires victim notification of offenders' releases, "so (victims) are not always looking over their shoulder," Jenkins said, "wondering if this person is following them."

Lenawee County District Court Judge James E. Sheridan said that domestic violence creates "a time bomb" because it's been shown to eventually contribute to worse levels of many social problems. He talked of sentencing a youthful repeat-offender who, years before, had experienced his father killing his mother and the father then committing suicide.

"Domestic violence is a women's issue. I'll give you that. But to say it's only a women's issue is downright stupid," Sheridan said.

"How many of you suffer from issues involving school dropouts? Well, how many of you will ever pay taxes in your life?

"How many of you enjoy drunk drivers out on the road waiting to kill you? I don't see any volunteers.

"How many of you have problems with the idea of bullies in schools? Bullies tend to come from domestic violence homes.

"There's a tendency to think of domestic violence as a women's issue," Sheridan added. "Allow me to suggest that it's also a man's issue. It's also a community issue. It's an issue involving boys and girls who will become men and women."